Controller device for tracker-boards.



A [mm/70R M I im. B S

C. M. WELTE. CONTROLLER DEVICE FOR IRACKER BOARDS. APPLICATION FILEDpic. 9 1913'.

I WITNESSES Ptnted Oct. 26, 1915.

- c M. WELTE. CONTROLLER DEVICE FOR TRACKER BOARDS.

. APPLICATION FIL'ED ogc. 9, 1913. 1,158,015 Patented 00. 26, 1915.

4 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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MEL

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL M. WELTE, OF NEW'YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO M. WELTE & SONS, INC., OFNEW i f YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROLLER DEVICE FOR-' TRACKER-BOARDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

Application filed December 9, 1913. Serial No. 80554 6.

To all whom it only concern:

Be it known that I, CARL' M. VVELTE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controller Devicesfor 'lrackerlioards, of which the following is a full, clear, and enactdescription, whereby any one skilled in the art may make and use thesame.

The invention relates to mechanical musical instruments and moreparticularly to the control of the tracker-board of such an instrument,that is, to devices for controlling the operativeness of the ducts orpassages of a tracker-board with reference to the perforations of amusic-sheet or roll.

In the ordinary type of mechanically operated musical instruments it hasbeen common to employ atrack'er -looard over which a perforated sheet ofmusic is passed and such devices ordinarily operate upon an exhaustprinciple so that atmospheric pressure admitted to the ducts of thetracker through the openings of the music roll as they come intoregistration with the respective trackerducts, release and actuatecertain valve mechanisms which cause the sounding of the particular notecorresponding to the tracker-duct which is released to the atmosphere.After such a roll has been passed over the tracker-board and theselection or selections of music represented thereon have been played,it is necessary to re-wind the roll and obviously, the tracker-ductsmust be 'made inoperative with reference to the perforated sheet duringthis re-winding operation, otherwise the selections would be playedbackward. It has also become a general practice to utilize. a pluralityof trackerboards with individually perforated music sheets for eachtracher-bmlrd so that one roll 01' sheet of music may be played andduring the re-winding (.t said roll, the second roll or sheet of musicmay be played. In such an a rrangei'nent, an instrument may be operatedcontinuously.

The invention herein disclosed relates to the control of the trackerducts and is de signed to control the flow of air through the trackerducts and connections so that the manipulation of the note-soundingdevices may be controlled.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and compactarrangement for open ing and closing the ducts of a tracker withreference to the sounding devices and a still further object is tocontrol the ducts of a plurality of trackers.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an oscillatory orrotating device for connecting and controllingthe tracker ducts whichwill condense the very numerous connections required into a minimum ofspace.

The invention, as illustrated in the drawing, is shown in connectionwith two distinct tracker-boards and their respective music rolls.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a pair oftrackers and their connections to a player pneumatic. Fig. 2 is a detailview in side elevation of the controller device. Fig. 3 is an edge viewof the device illustrated in Fig. 2, looking from the right of saidfigure with parts broken in section. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional viewthrough the disks of the controller. Fig. 5 is a detail view on enlargedscale of a portion of the two disks of the controller illustrating thearrangement of the tracker and player pneumatic connections. Fig. 6 is adetail view of the valve for controlling the actuators of thecontroller.

In the accompanying drawings no attempt has been made to show in detailthe various parts of a mechanical musical instrument which wind andrewind the rolls or spools carrying the perforated music sheets and asillustrated in the diagram of Fig. 1, but a single player pneumatic isshown, it being understood, of course, that the number of playerpneumatics depends entirely upon the number of tracker openmgs and thatthe controller device which is designed to control the tracker-ducts ofwhatsoever number with reference to a corresponding number of playerpneumatics or other valve or' motor devices which may be employed in amusical instrument and which it is desirable to control through thetracker ducts.

Referring to the diagram in Fig. 1, the numeral. 1 indicates onetracker-board and 2 a second tracker-board wherein a single trackeropening 3 is shown in the trackerboard 1 and a single opening 4:illustrated in the tracker-board 2. i

The music roll or spool 5 for the trackerboard 1 is illustrated as beingre-wound in the direction of the arrow appurtenant wound upon the spool5.

thereto, it being presumed for the purpose of illustration that themusic-sheet 6 has been played as it was'wound upon the windor spool 7and is now being re- Therefore, its tracker-ducts are closed by thecontroller as hereinafter more fully described.

ing roll The music roll or spool 8 appurtenant to 'the-tracker-board 2is illustrated as bearing tion through the controller device with theplayer, Pneumatics.

Thel'controller device for connecting and disconnecting the variousducts of the tracker-boards 1 and 2 with the player pneumatics consistsessentially of two disklike members 11 and 12, each provided with aseries of perforations which may be brought into and out of registeringposition with each other. The disk 11 is as illustrated, secured to .astandard or support 13 by a collar 14 while the disk 12 is free tooscillate or rotate upon a central bearing 15 which is concentric with adisk 11. This disk 12 is held firmly against the face of the disk 11 bya spring 16 or other suitable device and is limited in its rotary oroscillatory movement with reference to the disk 11 by pins 17 fast inthe disk 11 and projecting through slots 18 concentrically arrangedabout the aXis of the disk 12. These stop pins 17 preferably bearsprings 19 which insure a good surface contact between the meeting facesof the disks 11 and 12.

The stationary disk 11 is provided'with a series of concentricperforations 20, 21, 22, 23 from which project tubes 24 which serve as aconvenient means for connecting the tracker tubes or ducts 25 of thetrackerboard 1 and the tracker-ducts or tubes 26 of the track enboard 2.The oscillatory disk 12 is also provided with a series of concentricallyarranged perforations 27, 28, 29, 30 so arranged as to be brought intoand out of registering position with certain of the perforations of thestationary disk 11 upon partial rotation or oscillation. Theperforations 27' to 30 inclusive are likewise con nected with tubes 31which serve, as a convenient' means'for connecting with the ducts ortubes 32, 33 which lead to the player pneumatics. Itf'teill be'observedthat all of the perforations in the stationary disk 11 are arranged inconcentric rows and in radial lines whilc'the series of perforations inthe oscillatory disk 12 have the various perforations arranged inconcentric rows with the alternate concentric rows of perforationsarranged on the same radia. Thus, when the oscillatory disk 1s in oneposition, the perforations of the concentric rows 27 and 29 of themovable disk are in registering position with the perforations 20 and 22of the stationary disk as illustrated in Fig. 5. The perforations 28 and30 of the movable the face of the stationary disk which is intermediatethe radial lines of its perforations. When the oscillatory disk isshifted, the concentric rows or perforations 28 and 30 are brought intoregistering position with the perforations 22 and 23 of the stationarydisk and thereupon the perforations 27 and 29 are closed by thestationary disk. lVith this arrangement, it is obvious that with disksof comparatively small diameter, a

. great number of connections may be madeand by a very slightoscillatory movement of the disks relatively to each other one oranother of the series of openings may be brought into registeringposition.

The oscillatory movement of the movable disk 12 may be secured in anydesired manher. For the purpose of illustration, it is shown in thediagram of Fig. 1 as being accomplished by small motors of the bellowstype A, B, the movable board of each of these bellows being connectedthrough suitable rods a, b with the peripheral edge of the movable disk.

To control the operation of the motorsA and B, a valve 0 is employed inconjunction with the main bellows or source of power D of the instrumentwhich, as illustrated, is actuated by a suitable motor. This bellows Dthrough a suitable duct 34 is connected to an opening 35 in thestationary member of the valve C which stationary member has openings36, 37 connecting through ducts 38, 39 with the motors A and Theopenings 36, 37 and their respective ducts areplaced in communicationeither with the suction of the bellows D through.

phere and is also provided with a channel or duct 43 formed in its lowerface and arranged to be brought into registering position with ports 44,45 extending upwardly from the duct 35, said registration beingdependent upon the position of the movable member 40.

As illustrated in the diagram of Fig. 1, the duct 38 is in communicationwith the main bellows D through the duct 34, passage 35, port 44 andducts 43 and 36, thus collapsing the bellows A. Thebellows B is open toatmosphere through the ducts 39,37 and 42.

In Fig. 6, the parts are shown as just appreaching the position abovedescribed and obviously if the movable member 40 is moved to the right,the reverse condition will attain and the bellows B will be coldisk arethen closed by openings 41, 42 to the atmoslapsed under the suction ofthe bellows D the music-roll 8, the end of the latch 49 will while thebellows A will be inflated upon being open to the atmosphere. Thisarrangement gives a positive movement to the oscillatory disk 12.

The movement'of the valve member 40 may be'accomplished in any desiredmanner.

' project into a notch 50 of the music roll and this will swing thelever 46 until the block 40 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 1toward the right to connect the duct 38 to the atmosphere and subjectthe duct 39 to the action of the suction of the bellows D.

It is to be understood, of course, that any desired means may be usedfor shifting the movable disk 12, that above described being aconvenient means for accomplishing the result.

The main suction D is connected with the player Pneumatics E by a duct51 which communicates with a windchest 52, the action of which upon theplayer pneumatic 53 is controlled by a valve 54. This valve is mountedin a compartment 55 which is normally open to the atmosphere through anopening 56 so that the pneumatic 53 will be expanded. It rests normallyupon a valve opening 57 of the suction compartment 52.

As illustrated in the diagrannthe trackerducts 26 of the tracker 2 arein communication with the ducts 33 of the player pneumatics while thetracker ducts 25 of the tracker 1 are closed with reference to the ducts32 of said player pneumatics. There fore, the tracker-ducts 26 willactuate the player pneumatics E. As soon as an opening of the musicsheet registers with atracker-duct 26, atmospheric air is admitted belowa diaphragm 58 which under the suction of the chamber 52 will cause thevalve 54 to rise.

This movement will uncover the valve opening 57 and raise the diaphragm58, subjecting the pneumatic 53 to the suction of the chest 52 and causeit to collapse.

The pneumatic is, of course, connected in anv suitable niannerwith thekey or other sounding device of the instrument which it is desired toactuate. To re-seat the valve 54 after the closing of the tracker-duct,a bleed-hole 59 is provided which equalizes the pressure on both sidesof the diaphragm 58 as soon as the tracker opening is closed.

A single player pneumatic and only two tracker-connecting ducts 32, 33are shown.

It is assumed, of course, that there will he a pairof tracker-ducts 32,33 for each player pneumatic. Obviously, upon a shifting of the valvemember 40, the tracker-ducts of the oscillatory disk willbe brought intoregistering position with the player pneumatic ducts 32, 33 andthereupon the tracker 1 will be'in' playing position while the tracker 2will be cut off. 7

Obviously, the details of the various mechanisms may be modified andchanged to meet the exigencies of any particular case. \Vhile one formof accomplishing results is shown herein, it is merely illustrative forthe purpose of showing a manner of actuating the controlling device. Itwill be observed that in the form of controller herein shown, all

of the connections may be readily made at a ducts is very slight. Withsuch a device as described, a maximum number of connectlons may be madewithin a minimum of space and 1t will be observed that but four.concentric rows of perforations are shown which occupy a comparativelysmall portion of the disks. Furthermore, the device is extremely simpleto manufacture as the perforations may be arranged with great accuracywith a minimum of labor. It is preferred-to make the disks of metalinasmuch as there is no liability of sticking and freezing of the partsdue to variations in climatic conditions.

There is a distinct advantage in utilizing the rotary disks and havingthe pneumatic motors A and B connected with the periph' ery thereof, onebeing inflated while the other is exhausted as it is obvious f om thisconstruction that there is considerable leverageat the periphery of thedisks which perranged to be brought into and out of registeringposition. with the perforations of the i cooperating disk as the disksare oscillated relatively'to each other.

3. A controlling device for tracker-boards comprising two relativelymovable disk like members, one of said members having a series ofconcentrically arranged perforations arranged in radial lines about acommon center, the other of said disks having a series of concentricallyarranged perforations the alternate rows of which are arranged in radiallines about a common center.

4. A controller device for tracker-boards comprising-a pair of disks,one of said disksbeing stationary and provided with concentric seriesofperforations arranged upon ra dial lines, the other of said diskshaving an oscillatory movement and being provided with concentric seriesof perforations, the alternate series being arranged upon radial linesand means for oscillating said disk.

5. In combination with a double set of tracker-board perforations andperforated music sheets, a stationary disk having a series ofperforations connected with each set of ducts of the respectivetracker-board perforations, a cooperating disk having perforationsconnected with the ducts of the player pneumatics and meansforrelatively oscillating said disks to bring the series of perforationscorresponding to one trackerboard into and out of registering positionwith the series of perforations of the cooperating disk.

6. In combination with a double set of tracker-board perforations andperforated music sheets, a stationary disk having a series ofperforations connected with each set of ducts of the respectivetracker-board perforations, an oscillatory disk hzfi/ing perforationsconnected with the ducts of the player pneumatics and means under thecontrol of the music sheet for oscillating said disk to bring itsperforations into and out of registering position with either set ofperforations of the stationary disk.

7. In combination with a tracker-board and perfo 'ated music sheet, apair of perforated disks, one of said disks being stationary and havingits perforations connected with the ducts of the tracker-board, f theother of said disks having an oscillatory movement and havingperforations connected with the player pneumatics and automatic meansfor oscillating said disk for moving its perforations into and out ofregistering position with reference to the perforations of thestationary disk.

8. A controller device for tracker-boards comprising two disk-likemembers, one of saidiimeinbers having concentric series of--per'forations, the alternate series connected respectively with theducts of separate tracker-boards, an oscillatory dlsk having concentric.series of perforations, the alternate series be ng connected with theplayer pneumatics of an instrument and means for perforations of themovable disk arrangedto register with certain of the perforations of thestationary disk upon partial rotation of said movable disk, two motordevices connected to substantially diametrically oppo site edges of themovable disk and means for alternately actuating said motor devices.

'10. In a controlling device for trackerboards, two relatively movabledisk-like members, each provided with concentric rows of perforations,certain of the perforations of one movable disk arranged to registerwith certain of the perforations of the cooperating disk upon partialrelative rotation of said disks, two motor devices connected to oppositesides of the disk and means for alternately actuating said motor devices11. In a controlling device for trackerboards, a plurality oftracker-boards each having music rolls and a traveling music sheet, tworelatively movable disk-like members, each provided with concentric rowsof perforations, certain of the perforations of one disk arranged toregister with certain of the perforations of the cooperating disk uponpartial relative rotation of said disks, a motor device for impartingrelative rotation to the disks, a shiftable valve mecha nism controllingsaid motor device and means operable from the music rolls for shiftingsaid valve mechanism.

12. In a controlling device for trackerboards,'a plurality of trackerboards each having musicrolls and a traveling music sheet, tworelatively movable disk-like members, each provided with concentric roWsof .)erforations, certain of the perforations of disk arrangedjoregister upon partial relative rotation of said disks, a motor devicefor imparting relative rotation to the disks, a

shiftable valve mechanism controlling said motor device and connectionsbetween said valve mechanism and each set of music rolls whereby saidvalve 1s controlled.

CARL M. WELTE.

Witnesses WM. B. HILL,

Kivrn BRENNER.

